Vishwanath temple to be developed like Shirdi, Tirupati shrines

With a view to provide better facilities to devotees as well as augment earnings at Kashi Vishwanath temple, Uttar Pradesh government is going to study the administration of Tirupati and Shirdi Sai Baba temples.

Lucknow: With a view to provide better facilities to devotees as well as augment earnings at Kashi Vishwanath temple, Uttar Pradesh government is going to study the administration of Tirupati and Shirdi Sai Baba temples.

The Trimumala Tirupati Devasthanam and Shirdi Sai Baba Trust are among the richest temple managements in India with donations running into several hundred crores of rupees including both cash and valuables like gold.

"The temple authorities will vist Tirupati Balaji and Sai Baba temples and study their administration with a view to provide better facilities to the devotees who come here in large numbers. The income part will also be taken care of in the study," UP minister of state (independent charge) for religious affairs Vijay Kumar Mishra told PTI.

The study will include measures and facilities available there, he said.

"I am myself planning to visit these temples for the purpose. Once I get the report from our officer. I will also go there to understand their functioning," he said.

The annual donations to Kashi Vishwanath come to a paltry Rs 4-5 crore.

The state government, he said, has already chalked out a plan to spruce up the Vishwanath Temple at Varanasi, which is one of the most famous Hindu temples and is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, the holiest of Shiva temples.

As per the plans, beautification of bylanes leading to the temple situated on western bank of the holy river Ganges is on the cards besides earmarking of waiting area for devotees and also expansion of the temple premises, he said.

"Our approach it that the darshan should be easy and hassle free and visitors should not face any inconvenience. From entry to exit, every thing should be smooth with dedicated area for waiting", he said.

He said work is also on to construct a website of the temple and start "online darshan" for devotees.

As per plans, the web site will give detailed history of the temple besides guiding those planning their religious trip to Varanasi and help them reach here, he said.

The steps will not only help in increasing the income of the temple but also facilitate those coming to the world famous temple.

Installation of donation boxes in the temple premises and counting of donation under the vigil of close circuit TV (CCTV) cameras will also be introduced, he said.